If You're Always Over-Scheduled, Find Out Why You Need to Slow Down

Being busy and being productive can often be confused with one another. If you are busy, you may have a lot on your plate, but this doesn't necessarily mean you are productive, or using your time efficiently. Being productive means being able to complete a task or get something done. You do not need to be busy in order to be productive. 

When busyness is glorified and encouraged, you may end up overextending yourself with varied obligations, appointments, commitments, and responsibilities. Busyness may lead to feeling:

• Anxious
• Stressed
• Overwhelmed
• Inadequate
• Sad
• Frustrated
• Angry
• Lonely
• Hopeless
• Incompetent
• Guilty

Being overly busy and exhausted may lead to an increase in stress and/or decreased self-esteem. This may trigger more serious mental health disorders including anxiety disorders, depression, and substance use disorders. 

Excessive busyness may impact your physical health by triggering or exacerbating:

• Muscle tension/pain
• Restlessness
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Inflammation
• Compromised immune function
• Fatigue
• Change in sex drive
• Digestion issues
• Cardiovascular disease.

Demanding schedules may leave no or very little time for meaningful connections with others. You may feel isolated and lonely, and those around you may feel rejected or angry with your lack of availability. Relationships with friends, family, and spouses may suffer because of your overextended schedule.

Relationships require time and effort. Being pulled in multiple directions by your obligations can leave you feeling stressed and unable to engage fully in your relationships. 

Here's a few things you can try to deal with busyness:

• Practice mindfulness 
• If possible, plan a vacation or staycation for yourself 
• Make it a priority to spend time with your loved ones. 
• Set boundaries with others and remind yourself that it's okay to say "no."
• Remind yourself that your self-worth does not come from being productive or busy. 
• If you use busyness as a tool to avoid unpleasant thoughts or feelings, try to determine what you are uncomfortable facing.